as in convinces
to cause (someone) to think or believe something by using methods that make a person unable to think normally
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners. Does advertising brainwash children?
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashes
Verb
-
Javier Bardem plays Ruben, the boss of an underdog racing team who convinces Sonny to return to the sport to partner with and mentor rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
1 Mar. 2026 -
Concerned about corporate image and dwindling morale, the store manager convinces a group of employees to stay overnight to investigate these occurrences.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This leads us to another revelation of decoherence theory, the one that persuades me that Zurek’s theory now tells a complete story.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Most of the passengers are content to wait for the driver to figure things out, but Folarin persuades a passing truck driver to take him and his sons the rest of the way.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Government shutdowns usually need a pressure point to force a compromise that brings them to their end.—
Paul Kane,
Washington Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
On Monday, March 16, Tío Tóto's Musical Storytime Adventures brings an interactive kids music show where the audience becomes the band.—
Melissa Grzybowski,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The logic of what attracts the news media’s interest can be quite grim.—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Females produce a pheromone which attracts clusters of males for mating.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Godfrey began Cactus Bowls, which sells açai bowls, this past August, taking the trailer to high school games and cheer competitions.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Reunion sells goods inspired by these countries, such as the Nata, an egg custard tart popular in Portugal, and the Golfeado, a Venezuelan sticky bun.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Your starter entices with a spicy-tangy flavor, leading into the classic roasted chicken entree.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Crews have been deployed to spray disinfectant on vehicles entering the exclusion zone to avoid any possible transfer of the highly-contagious viral disease that induces fever and blister-like sores in the mouth, drastically reduces milk production and leaves animals weakened.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In theory, the charge of a thunderstorm above induces an opposite charge in the ground below.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Its design showcased the Mediterranean and Colonial Revival influences common in Reynolds’ work and in Florida school architecture of the 1920s, which emphasized regional forms adapted to climate as well as community use.—
Sarah M. Boye,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
-
This sensibility influences their coverage of thornier topics, such as tech governance and regulation.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashes. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
